Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs ActivTrades, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
When comparing Charles Schwab and ActivTrades, both brokers present their own unique features and regulatory standings. Founded in 1971, Charles Schwab stands out with a Trust Score of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. As a publicly traded entity and a bank, it holds five Tier-1 licenses—considered highly trusted—demonstrating its strong regulatory framework. In contrast, ActivTrades has been in operation since 2001 and isn’t publicly traded or a bank. While it holds two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, it still maintains a respectable Trust Score of 81, marking it as a trusted broker.
Overall, Charles Schwab offers a highly secure option for those seeking an online broker with stringent regulatory backing, thanks in part to its significant number of Tier-1 licenses and its status as a publicly traded bank. Meanwhile, ActivTrades provides a solid level of trust with its combination of Tier-1 and Tier-2 licenses, appealing to investors who prioritize regulatory oversight. Each broker’s regulatory standings can help users make an informed choice based on their personal investment preferences and risk tolerance.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Charles Schwab offers a clear advantage for forex traders with its absence of a minimum deposit requirement for primary brokerage accounts, making it easy for anyone to start trading. Forex traders have access to the thinkorswim platform via two account types: Schwab One and Schwab Global. While Schwab stands out by not charging commissions on forex trades, trading costs come from the bid/ask spread, with the EUR/USD averaging 1.35 pips in October 2024. Though this is higher than the industry average, Schwab does provide helpful tools like an overnight carry charges calculator. Schwab is rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranked #23 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
ActivTrades features competitive spreads that slightly outperform the industry average but doesn't quite match the most cost-effective forex brokers. The main account options are the Individual, Professional, and Islamic Accounts, with no commissions charged. Spreads are consistent across accounts, and target spreads are available for each asset, although actual spreads may fluctuate during trading sessions. For the EUR/USD, the average spread was 0.98 pips as of May 2024. Like Schwab, ActivTrades also earns a 4-star rating for commissions and fees, securing the #28 rank among 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
Both Charles Schwab and ActivTrades present viable options for forex trading with distinct benefits. Schwab might appeal more to those seeking a platform for trading in multiple international markets despite larger spreads, while ActivTrades may attract traders favoring narrower spreads without commission fees. Ultimately, your choice may boil down to specific trading needs, whether that involves ease of access to international markets or cost-effective forex trading.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Charles Schwab and ActivTrades on their range of available investments, both brokers offer some enticing options for traders. Charles Schwab provides a vast array of 40,000 tradeable symbols, significantly surpassing ActivTrades' offering of 1,267 symbols. Moreover, Charles Schwab gives access to a broader spectrum of forex pairs with 73 options, compared to ActivTrades’ 49 pairs. Schwab stands out by allowing clients to invest in exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, enabling direct purchases of shares like Apple, which ActivTrades does not offer. Both brokers facilitate investments in international exchange-traded securities such as Vodafone.
ActivTrades has a distinct advantage with its copy trading feature, a service not available at Charles Schwab. However, neither platform allows for the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, although they both offer cryptocurrency derivatives. Rated 5 stars for its range of investments, Charles Schwab is ranked 5th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, reflecting its comprehensive investment options. ActivTrades, rated with 4 stars and ranked 31st, offers a respectable but narrower selection, particularly appealing to those interested in copy trading and CFD options.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When considering trading platforms and tools, Charles Schwab and ActivTrades both offer a rich suite of features designed to enhance the trading experience for their clients. Both brokerages provide simulated or paper trading, allowing users to test strategies without real financial risk. Each also boasts a proprietary platform alongside a Windows-based desktop platform and a web-based option, ensuring versatile access to trading activities. While Charles Schwab does not support MetaTrader versions or copy trading, ActivTrades accommodates these popular tools, supporting both MetaTrader 4 and 5, as well as offering copy trading capabilities.
In terms of charting features, Charles Schwab provides 24 drawing tools and the ability to trade directly from stock charts, similar to ActivTrades, which offers 15 drawing tools. Schwab stands out with a generous offering of 580 columns for watch lists compared to ActivTrades' 11. Both platforms support direct trading from stock charts. As for ratings, Charles Schwab is rated 5 stars by ForexBrokers.com, placing it at 5th amongst 63 brokers, while ActivTrades holds a solid 4-star rating, ranked 30th. This comparison highlights Charles Schwab's stronger reputation for trading platforms and tools in the industry.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Charles Schwab and ActivTrades both provide impressive mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. Both platforms allow users to set stock and forex price alerts and draw trendlines on charts, along with the flexibility to view various time frames, such as daily, weekly, or intraday. These features make managing and acting on trading opportunities convenient. While both apps can create watchlists with real-time quotes, Charles Schwab offers the added advantage of syncing watchlists with a user's online account, ensuring any changes made are updated across all devices.
In terms of technical analysis, Charles Schwab stands out, offering 374 technical studies for its charting feature, significantly more than ActivTrades' 30 studies. Both apps auto-save drawing on charts, enhancing the user-friendly experience. For overall user satisfaction, Charles Schwab's app is highly rated, earning a perfect five-star rating and ranking 6th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, ActivTrades garners a four-star rating and ranks 19th in the same category, indicating strong performance but with room for improvement when compared to its competitor.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Charles Schwab and ActivTrades both provide strong market research options, but there are key differences to consider. Both brokers offer daily market commentary and forex news sourced from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, ensuring consistent updates and insights for traders. Additionally, both platforms feature an economic calendar to keep users informed about global news events that could impact markets. However, neither Charles Schwab nor ActivTrades offers research tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, or Acuity Trading, nor do they provide market research from TipRanks.
One of the standout differences is that ActivTrades offers a sentiment-based trading tool that presents a ratio of long or short positions across various instruments, an option Charles Schwab does not provide. This tool can be particularly beneficial for traders looking to gauge market sentiment. In terms of ratings, Charles Schwab ranks higher with a perfect 5-star rating for research, positioning itself as #4 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. ActivTrades, while still rated positively at 4 stars, is ranked #30, indicating a slightly less comprehensive offering in comparison.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to offering educational resources for beginner traders, both Charles Schwab and ActivTrades provide comprehensive materials in the realm of forex and CFDs. Each platform offers a variety of educational pieces such as articles, videos, and archived webinars to guide new traders. With online client webinars held monthly and accessible archives of past webinars, both brokers ensure that learners have access to a wide range of information. Furthermore, each offers over ten beginner-focused videos to help ease the transition into trading for novice investors. Advanced traders are not left behind, as both platforms also feature advanced educational videos, helping to deepen knowledge as investors grow more proficient.
One area where Charles Schwab edges ahead of ActivTrades is with its investor dictionary, offering definitions for over 50 investing terms, a resource not provided by ActivTrades. This feature, coupled with its extensive educational offerings, lends to Charles Schwab receiving a five-star education rating, while ActivTrades holds a four-star rating. Additionally, Charles Schwab showcases its commitment to education by ranking #6 out of 63 brokers in the education category on ForexBrokers.com, significantly higher than ActivTrades, which ranks at #38. Whether you are just beginning or looking to refine your trading skills, both platforms provide solid educational support, with Charles Schwab offering a slightly more comprehensive suite of educational tools.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Charles Schwab is better than ActivTrades. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
Charles Schwab is a highly trusted financial institution and multi-asset broker catering to U.S.-based and international forex traders. Schwab's award-winning thinkorswim platform offers over 70 tradeable currency pairs alongside impressive tools, research, and education. That said, the broker’s forex offering is still largely limited to what is available on thinkorswim.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
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ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 |
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Both Charles Schwab and ActivTrades do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
Charles Schwab and ActivTrades differ in their fund transfer options: Charles Schwab supports ACH or SEPA transfers and bank wires but does not accommodate PayPal, Skrill, or Visa/Mastercard, whereas ActivTrades allows fund transfers via Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but not ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | ActivTrades Review |
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